Cowboys coach Jason Garrett briefly discussed during an April news conference the advantages of using a drone to shoot video of practices.
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“The drone angle is interesting because it gives you a chance from behind to see all 11 guys on offense and all 11 guys on defense, but from a lower angle. Oftentimes, you have to kind of pull yourself way away to get the all-22 shot. This allows you to be a little closer, so you can coach better. You see hand placement, you see where (players) have their feet and where they have their eyes. I think that’s important. You can look at the players and coach them better when you’re that much closer to the action.”
The problem: It was illegal for the team to use a drone without special permission from the FAA.
Even with an exemption, the team’s drone operator still faces many restrictions: They must be a licensed pilot, the drone can be flown only in daylight and it cannot travel beyond the pilot’s view.
Fortunately for the Cowboys, a football field seems an ideal setting to fly a drone.
